St Swithin's Day

The 15th July is St Swithin's Day.

St Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain,

For forty days it will remain.

St Swithin's Day, if thou be fair,

For forty days t'will rain nae mair.

St Swithin was the Bishop of Winchester in the

ninth century. He was a kind and humble man. 

When he died he asked to be buried outside his church

so that his grave would be trodden on by the feet

of passers-by, and he would receive

the raindrops from the eaves.

The story is that when the monks wished to move his body 

many years later, it rained so hard

for forty days that they gave up the idea.

It was pretty fair today,

so I'd say we're in for the 

nae mair rain for forty days forecast.

The ceremony of swan-upping takes place in July.

The swan-markers (wearing special uniforms)

row up the Thames from London Bridge

to Henley, collecting all the swans

and marking the beaks of cygnets.*

* All information from

Something to Do. Never far from my side.